Last Gasp Stevo Strike Rescues Point

Newburgh travelled to Paties Road for their first game of the season against Edinburgh United

With United under new management and with their band of Ultras behind the goal, it was always going to be a hard game for an opener.

With Struan Grieve missing, Michael Perrie started at left back and Dan Kenny started up front with Kellar Harris picking up a knock in training.

Newburgh started much the brighter and could have taken the lead after 4 minutes when Cai Macdonald found Kenny in the box but his shot was well saved by the onrushing keeper. Burgh’s next chance came from a well worked corner when Callum Anderson’s cross-shot was cleared.

United then created a few half chances before a switched ball was taken down well on the left and it was Chalmers who had to smother the shot and then grab the rebound in the 23rd minute.

Then only a minute later the game changed when Kenny was put through, beating the onrushing keeper to the ball and was taken out. The referee decided it was a last man challenge and sent the home keeper off.

Burgh then put the pressure on and from one of the following corners on the half hour mark Andrew Cameron won the ball on the edge of the United area and was wiped out by a poor challenge that the referee decided was also a red; sending United down to 9 men.

Burgh pushed forward looking for the opener and on 33 minutes a Kenny shot deflected over the keeper but onto the bar and back out before being cleared.

In the second half Newburgh had all the play but United held out. Chances fell for Mitchell Sharp and Harris were saved while Perrie went close.

Then with 5 mins to go the inevitable happened as Burgh were caught on the attack, the ball was crossed from the left, took a couple of deflections and landed plum in front of goal for the United player to slot home. Cue wild celebrations from the Ultras and United.

To Newburgh’s credit they kept playing and a Perrie cross was palmed out by the sub keeper to Lewis Stevenson who slotted home on 94 minutes to make it 1-1.

Burgh could have won it even later when a diagonal ball found Perrie, he took a great touch inside, but his shot was saved by the keeper’s legs.

An away point against a decent side who defended with everything they had. It is never easy to play against a team who sit in and slow the game down, but fair play to the Burgh players who could easily have folded after conceding late. It showed good character to fight back and almost grab the victory at the end, but they will be disappointed not to have grabbed all three points.